Bake Off star says 'going sober' has been 'glorious'

A Great British Bake Off star turned TV presenter says "going sober" and being alcohol free for nearly three years has been "glorious".

Briony May Williams, from Bristol, made it to the Great British Bake Off semi-finals back in 2018, but went home after she served judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith "raw pastry" and admitted she used "salt instead of sugar".

Williams said she decided to make some "big changes" in her life and go sober after she ended up in hospital at the end of 2023 following an "alcohol-heavy 39th birthday".

"Going sober - it's glorious. It's not always easy but it's always worth it and I feel much more able to cope with what life throws at me," she added.

Since her first TV appearance on the popular cooking show, Williams has built a career as a presenter, working for BBC One shows Morning Live and Escape To The Country, as well as Channel 4's Food Unwrapped.

But Williams said hitting the 1000 days alcohol-free milestone at the end of July felt like "such a massive achievement".

"It felt really huge. Getting through another summer and not wanting alcohol.

It's been a huge mind shift but now its just a normal part of my life," she added.

She said she was never addicted to alcohol, but as a social drinker she did love "a vino or five on a night out".

But when she realised alcohol "wasn't bringing anything positive" to her life she decided to take it "one day at a time" without thinking about how far she would get.

"When you're feeling vulnerable you can turn to booze and I feel a bit of dread in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year," she said.

"But the thought of going back to it fills me with dread.

"Now, I have a cup of tea and give my daughter a cuddle. I'm OK without it now - I don't think I'll ever go back."

Despite being eight years "out of the Bake Off tent" and "part of the vintage crop of bakers", Williams said she is still a massive fan of the show.

"I do have a Bake Off tattoo on my ribs - I've got a piping bag, a whisk and a rolling pin," she said.

"It's quite funny - during the series we were all like let's get a tattoo - as far as I'm aware I'm the only one who got a tattoo.

"But you know it was such an amazing part of my life, it's completely changed my life in so many wonderful ways."

The 17th series of the Channel 4 show will return on 22 September and will see TV chef Nigella Lawson taking over from Dame Prue Leith in the Bake Off tent alongside Paul Hollywood.

Contestants have also been confirmed, including a paediatric doctor, a competitive sprinter, a hairdresser and a drag artist.

Briony said she is "really excited" to see Nigella and Paul "in the tent together".

"I mean Prue used to give it to you honestly. She would tell you if your cake was rubbish, you know, like when your Nan says something really mean but she doesn't mean it to be mean," she said.

"But I'd be really intimidated baking for [Nigella]."

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